An astonishing encounter unfolded when a police helicopter narrowly escaped a collision with a US fighter jet while conducting a drone search over an RAF base. This hair-raising moment, recently unveiled through footage released by the National Police Air Service (NPAS), involved an F-15 jet known for its incredible speeds of up to 1,650 mph.
The video captures the scene as the aircraft flies perilously close to the police helicopter above RAF Lakenheath, an American airbase located in Suffolk. The startling incident occurred on November 22 of the previous year.
During this near-miss, the helicopter and the fighter jet found themselves just 1,900 feet apart at one point, highlighting the precariousness of the situation. The incident prompted an investigation by the UK Airprox Board, the body responsible for probing such near-misses.
According to the board’s findings, the helicopter pilot had mistakenly identified red flashing lights as belonging to drones, when in fact, they were part of the F-15 Eagle. This misidentification contributed to the close call.
The NPAS helicopter made multiple communications with air traffic control to clarify their position and actions, as well as the activities of the supposed ‘drones.’ These transmissions were crucial in understanding the unfolding scenario.
Its report said the NPAS helicopter had made several transmissions to air traffic control to explain their movements and what the ‘drones’ were doing.
However investigators highlighted how the crew on board the helicopter had not been told by RAF Lakenheath of the F-15’s presence.
They noted that while the fighter pilot knew where the helicopter was, ‘it may have been particularly beneficial for the situational awareness of the EC135 pilot if the Lakenheath Approach Controller had passed reciprocal traffic information to them’.
Video grab shows the extraordinary moment a fighter jet almost crashed with a police helicopter above an RAF base
Picture shows F15 fighter jets landing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk (file photo)
A screengrab of the helicopter video shows a small object, which appears as a tiny blob on the infrared camera, slowly moving towards the top right of the screen
RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force base in Europe and is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which provides combat power for NATO and European defenses.
Police call logs from November 22 and November 27 last year reveal that missions had to be withdrawn after helicopters came close to suspected drones.
The unmanned aerial devices were first spotted on November 20 at four air bases in the UK including RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.
Around 60 British troops were drafted in to help the United States Air Force investigate the mystery aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed last month its investigation into the drone activity had concluded.
Accountable Manager at NPAS Chief Superintendent Vicki White said: ‘At NPAS, safety remains our foremost priority.
‘It is imperative that any concerns raised by our crews are reported without delay and thoroughly investigated to determine any potential risk to aviation safety.
‘The crew demonstrated professionalism and sound judgement in identifying a potential hazard.
The UK Airprox Board, which investigates near misses, concluded the helicopter pilot had misidentified red flashing lights belonging to the F-15 Eagle (file photo of police helicopter)
RAF Lakenheath (pictured) is the largest US Air Force base in Europe and is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which provides combat power for NATO and European defenses
‘With no traffic information provided and no situational awareness regarding the presence of the F15 aircraft, the crew correctly returned to base as a precautionary measure.
‘We note the UK Airprox Board’s conclusion that there was no risk of collision.
‘NPAS remains committed to supporting the highest standards of aviation safety and to working collaboratively with our partners across the sector.’
The Daily Mail previously obtained a short video from the police chopper showing a small object, no more than a blob on the infrared camera, slowly moving towards the top right of the screen.
A UK military source said there was more to the incident than a close brush with a fighter jet.
‘In the 30-minute video with pilot audio, nobody mentions F-15s,’ they said.
‘They only talk about the drones. How they’re basically mirroring the helicopter’s movements.
‘How fast the drones are going. That they’re basically forcing them out of the area.’
The source added that the footage shows one object pursuing the craft performing maneuvers impossible for a fighter jet.
‘A fixed-wing craft is caught on the video, where you can see a corkscrew move,’ the insider said. ‘An F-15 cannot make a small corkscrew turn like that.’
